Hugo's And Grill - MONTPELIER

It was okWheelchair accessibility: i didn't see an elevator and it's upstairs

Great to have them back in a new place, Always an interesting selection with an Asian slant and seasoning, nice folks,

*Reviewing their new location at the former Black Door. After the flood, Hugo's has risen like a Phoenix in its reincarnation upstairs on Main in the old Black Door digs. This feels like a very good match. On a recent Thursday night, out dining with friends, every table was filed, the iconic bar flush with patrons, and live music seeped down from the third floor. The mood and menu seem well matched to the space's speakeasy bones. A bevy of curated cocktails paired with an inviting wine beer list first commanded our attention, and our server was attentive yet patient as we perused the main menu. There are a number of directions I could have taken, ultimately settled on a roasted cauliflower salad with chickpeas. It was outstanding both in flavor, concept, and quantity. I am still thinking about it two weeks later. My friends enjoyed their meals too, though the steak my friend ordered for her salad came uncut on a side plate, without a steak knife. And another friend nearly finished her fries before ketchup was requested and delivered. But, all in all, a very auspicious beginning for the reinvented Hugo's. We sat in the front room, but peeking into the main dining room I saw a modest amount of tables bundled together. Missing was the velvet banquettes and rich jeweled interior decor of the Black Door, leaving the space feeling a little underwhelming. Perhaps something is planned for the near future to pull it all together. We enjoyed our meals, our company, and the energy of the space. I look forward to returning soon for a date night, tucked away in a table for two.

Walking in the door I expected a little more flare. Slightly bland and a little pretentious for the overall Montpelier crowd. To be fair it was a Monday evening, also the location of this establishment is one that is very dear to me. NECI ran its restaurant out of here while I was attending for my Bachelor 's and I have spent hundreds of hours working and learning in this space from some absolutely incredible talent. I felt bored sitting in the dining room, it lacks stimulation. Maybe a pop of color with some fresh flowers or some ornate utensils and tableware to add some warmth? The restaurant was clean. Our table however was not and we had to have them wipe it while we were already seated. A little awkward. The waitstaff was not unfriendly but also not attentive. They get a C on that report card. Yup she was there; but rarely and we had what we needed but just barely. We also had to request that the music being played on the speakers be turned down so that we could talk amongst ourselves. Way to loud. Let 's talk about the food. I had the salmon and my wife had the pad Thai. The salmon was roughly 5oz and did seem to be center cut. I specifically asked that mine be cooked to medium. It came out over cooked. It was good but not what I ordered. The risotto that came with the fish was undercooked. The flavor of the fish was good. I 'm not sure about the honey comb garnish;the food was hot and honey comb is naturally Made of wax so the heat from the food took away the slight crunch that honeycomb can add to a cheese plate or slightly chilled application. In concept I understand why that garnish choice was made. The execution needs to be more developed.All of the food needed additional seasoning. It was not enough food for me but I 'm large and hungry all the time. I had a sandwich after my walk home.The Pad Thai was good. It needed more sauce; I liked that they use marinated chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. The noodles were cooked well and overall it was tasty. Between the two the pad Thai was the winner. But it 's not the best pad Thai I have had in Montpelier and is by far the most expensive. Overall this place is currently just ok, and with having some heavy contenders just around the way at a lower price point this place will need to reevaluate their operations to be a front runner sitting in the shadows of 3 penny taproom. It has potential, I could see the vibe changing with live music which I know they have at times. It also may take some trial and error for them to find their rhythm in Montpelier, it 's always been a tricky town. Best of luck

We so wanted to like this relatively new addition to the Montpelier food scene but the dishes we had failed on multiple levels. Fish and chips small portion of fish which was dry and tasteless, served on a very small plate so not easy to eat. Guessing frozen. It was not overcooked just poor quality. Partner had mussels with frites: sauce was not memorable and was served without any dunking bread or bowl for the shells. Our server was the best part of the meal attentive and pleasant…. Oh and good beer selection.